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Freed After Four Months, Zimbabwean Opposition Official Out Of Work

Last Updated: October 27, 2009 10:02 AM

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Freed After Four Months, Zimbabwean Opposition Official Out Of Work

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A senior official of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change who was held by police for about four months has been suspended from his job as a technician for the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority for failing to report to work in that time.

Deputy Organizing Secretary Morgan Komichi of the MDC faction headed by Morgan Tsvangirai is a technician at the Munyati Power Plant in Midlands Province.

Harare police held Komichi and about 30 other MDC officials and activists for several months between March and this month on charges they committed or plotted violent acts - based on evidence that a high court judge concluded had been fabricated.

Other defendants include Glen View member of parliament Paul Madzore and Youth Secretary General Solomon Madzore. Arrested in April, Komichi was released early this month, and charged that he had been severely beaten while in custody.

Komichi said he has not been receiving a salary for the past three months and did not receive a formal letter indicating his suspension. A ZESA human resources manager who gave his name as Sibanda refused to comment, saying the matter is in court.

The cases of Komichi and his co-defendants have been put off to September.

Komichi told reporter Patience Rusere that he suspects his suspension is politically motivated as he has not been found guilty for the charges he is facing and he was denied bail for months, making it impossible for him to go to work.